AUGUSTA — Lawmakers have sent to Gov. Paul LePage a bill that carves out a major chunk of Maine’s Clean Election Act.

Legislators on Tuesday gave final passage to the change in the public campaign financing law.

The bill removes the so-called “matching funds” provision from the law, in line with a U.S. Supreme Court decision declaring matching funds unconstitutional.

Under the current law, candidates received matching funds to remain competitive in races when opponents or outside groups spent large amounts of money to influence the outcome.

Republicans say that even with the change, the intent of the Clean Election Act remains intact.

Democrats say the law is left weakened by not enacting a replacement for matching funds.


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